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hello loves

i’m sick in bed, but not my bed. it’s amazing to me how the universe provides. i’m far from my new home, up north, and i came down with gnarly fever and stomach bug. i’m alone with ash, and i cannot tell you how harrowing it is to be sick in bed when it’s just you and your kid who gives no fuck about what it means to be sick.

i asked, i called out for help. and one of the only people i know in the area swooped in and is taking care of my child while i sleep in her bed.

and i am thinking right now about the many solo parents who are out there in lockdown and don’t have the luxury of falling into the arms of a near-total-stranger when the going gets this hard.

i may be puking, and peeing out of my bum, and sweating so much i’ve had to change my shirt four times...but i feel fucking blessed, lucky, grateful and i’m crying even as i write this.

sometimes i just can’t understand why i got so lucky to be here in new zealand. i know it’s random. but at moments like this, i just break down.

i love you all.

i have the new podcast with tim flannery and the end-of-year wrap up to get out in the next day or two. i’m gonna try. i’m so sick.

oh

if you have any remedies to share, please do. i’m barely eating and making my own rehydration drinks (with salt and sugar and a little citrus) and i’ll be hitting the banana, rice, toast and stuff when i finally have an appetite. but anything else that you think may help- hit me.

x

a

ps from the drive up here...don’t worry he wasn’t even remotely close enough to hit the swans

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Kreon

Hope you’ll better soon Amanda! <3

VitAnyaNaked

Oh no! This is a terrible ailment, which I am sure you will soon defeat, because you are strong! Do not be upset. Oh, though ... You're so happy! I am very glad that you do not lose heart even at such moments!

Dara Bukhtoyarova

Lots of love and hope you will feel better soon!

Caren Helms

I'm so sorry to hear you're sick and hope you recover quickly. All your experience and years of learning to ask for help all came together perfectly for this situation! That is not only the universe taking care of you, but you growing and learning and using your life experiences. Much love to you, Ash and your lovely friend!

DrWex

Sounds like a norovirus. Don't push yourself. Eating saltines (or the local equivalent) is a triumph and should be a reasonable goal in the next 48 hours. Electrolyte and similar drinks should be treated like radiation - you likely don't need it except in specific cases. In this case if your mouth starts tasting like aluminum. Otherwise, sips of water, sucking on ice chips and similar will do. Too much salt would be bad, Ray. Once you get to the point where you can retain things, use the BRAT diet - Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast. All are simple and very unlikely to re-upset your stomach. If you can keep pills down, Tylenol for the cramps and likely stomach/ass ache you'll have. Expect to feel like someone punched you in the stomach pretty hard. Noro viruses are actually a lot more contagious than people think. Plan to wash all bedding, clothing, and towels you can in hot water ASAP. Try to avoid contact with people for two weeks after the cessation of symptoms - the CDC guidance used to be 72 hours but they revised it up a couple years ago. This is also a really good time to throw out your toothbrush and get a new one. Sorry you got hit with this - feel better soon.

Jozias

Not to add what doc says. Found apple juice there too. I do generally good on that. Hope you get over this soon and take rest you feel you need. 💕 Take care.

Caitlin Brown

So in regards to your photo of Ash with the swans at the end... I'm sure you know this, but they're called Australian Black Swans. I had an internship at a zoo once and they had two. And they. were. EVIL. In order to get into their own for cleaning, I had to bring a broom to keep them at bay or they would outright attack me. And when I say "bring a broom," I don't mean delicately shooing the delicate birds away. I bring having an all-out sword fight between my swinging this broom, full strength, like a longsword vs. the swan's RATHER STRONG wings. It was a sight to behold, and I hope it gave you a giggle!

Anonymous

I hope that by the time you read this you are feeling better, but if not, I have a few ideas for things to eat when you aren’t sure they will be staying down but you still need to eat SOMETHING so that your belly doesn’t feel all sloshy and hollow and you are getting some calories in. The first is a pure indulgence: chocolate chip cookie dough. Not cookies, just the dough (it goes down easier). Homemade fresh is absolutely the best (as long as you trust your eggs). The second is a “meal” I learned from an ex-anorexic ballet-dancer friend: white rice with butter and sugar. Instant rice is just fine. Trust me, this actually tastes amazing and is super gentle on your stomach if you are feeling queazy. Sometimes I make it as a dessert for myself if there is white rice left over after dinner. Both of these give you the calories your body needs even if you don’t feel like eating, are good for eating as slowly as you need with a spoon while curled in a blanket, they taste good going down, and taste just about the same coming back up if that is a probability so there is nothing to dread. I hope this email finds you feeling better. As the curtain is drawn on this crazy year, remember that the dawn is coming. Things will get better. We will be ok again. We will be able to hug our friends again, and be in crowds without anxiety. Life will find its way to a new normal and we will be ok. I do not know you, although I know your voice and I know your words. We will probably never meet. But know that you are a star in my night that sparkles and winks when I am adrift and you let me know that I am not alone. While I do not know you, I love you. I hope that you physically feel better soon, and that your heart will feel better soon as well, although that may take a little longer for all of us.

Nicole Ives

Sorry this is late, when I had the worst case of food poisoning I have ever had, and was even throwing up water! The first thing I could keep down was a couple of teaspoons of Milo in hot water. Milo is now officially a superfood on my list. Take care and keep hydrated.

Jessica Urban

Sending you love and healing energy. With much love and solidarity, Jesse